VIDEO: Pre-schoolers finally get a crossing for dangerous road

After years of campaigning, parents and teachers at the New Montessori Pre-school in Tarring Road secured the crossing to help children get to the school safely.

“It’s been a problem since we moved into this area in 2006,” said Beki Shanahan, prinpal of the New Montessori Pre-school.

“The road was so dangerous. People weren’t stopping and weren’t slowing down,” she said.

Many children attending the pre-school have to cross Tarring Road, but with no crossing near the school teachers had to stand in the middle of the road to allow children to get across safely.

However, after years of campaigning a crossing has been installed, to the delight of pupils, parents, and staff alike.

“Everybody is now using it,” Beki said.

“Drivers seem to be slowing down, they are actually paying attention.”

As well as parents and staff, Beki was keen to thank councillor Michael Cloake, who played a key role in the campaign.

Mr Cloake, West Sussex county councillor for Worthing Pier ward, helped raise the safety issues affecting the school in Tarring Road at a county level.

“I know the area very well,” said Mr Cloake. “My children went to the Montessori pre-school so I know of some of the dangers there.

“It’s a fast road that carries a lot of cars. In my peronal memory I remember a car careering onto the pavement and taking out three wheelie bins,” he added.

While there were difficulties getting funding for the crossing, Mr Cloake is pleased the campaign was a success and hopes the new crossing will help all residents in the area.

“My heartfelt thanks goes to the staff at the New Montessori Pre-school for leading so strong a campaign,” he added.

Mr Cloake said he was not aware of other Worthing schools in similar need of a crossing, but he added he would like to see one installed in Shelley Road to serve the doctors surgery.

This would ‘help some of the more vulnerable users of the surgery’, he said.

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